Lobster trap



May 17, 1949. J, MacDONA LD LOBSTER TRAP Filed Feb. 2,1946

v a J.

m amm Patented May 17,1949

LOBSTER TRAP Joseph R. MacDonald, Winchester, Mass, as-

signor to Macmor Corporation, Boston,

Mass,

a corporation of Massachusetts Application February 2, 1946, Serial No.645,125

2 Claims.

This invention relates to lobster traps and its principal objects are toprovide a trap which is efficient and reliable in operation and which isof simple design, but of strong and durable construction, capable ofwithstanding severe usage, and to provide a trap having bait and/or luremembers which are so disposed as to attract lobsters and the likecrustaceans. Further objects relate to various features of constructionand will be apparent from a consideration of the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a lobster trap constructed in accordancewith the present invention; and

Fi 2 is an isometric view showing one of the counter-balanced gates andadjacent end and bottom walls, as viewed from the inside of a trap.

The embodiment herein shown for the purpose of illustration comprises abox-like structure having a rectangular frame I of angle iron whichprovides a base for supporting the bottom wall and to which the lowerends of the side and end walls 2 and 4 are secured, the top of the trapbeing closed by a cover 5 which is pivotally secured to the upper end ofthe rear side wall by hinges 6. The cover and bottom, side and end wallsare preferably formed of heavy wire screen of about 1 mesh, Or the likeforaminous material which may be galvanized, tinned or otherwiserendered corrosion-resistant. The ends of the wires constituting thebottom wall are welded or otherwise secured to the horizontal flange ofthe base I, as indicated at 8 in in Fig. 2.

At each end wall is an inverted U-shaped heavy wire or light steel rodI0, the ends of which are welded or otherwise suitably secured to theangle iron I and slightly below the bend of the rods I0 is a metal strapI I extending circumferentially about the four walls of the trap. Thelower ends of the wires constitutin the lower and side walls are securedto the vertical flange wing of the angle iron I and their upper ends arewelded or otherwise secured to the strap II. In a similar manner thelower ends of the wires constituting the upper part of the side and endwalls are welded to the strap II and their upper ends are welded orotherwise secured to the central horizontally extending portion of therod I 0 or a strap I2 which defines the upper edge of the opposite sidewalls 2. The rear strap I2 carries one wing of the hinges B and thestrap I2 at the upper edge of the front wall carrie a latch member I4 bymeans of which the cover 5 may be held closed.

The cover 5 comprises a rectangular metal frame I5 which closely fitsthe opening defined by the straps I2 and upper ends of the rods I0, andthe ends of the wires constitutin the top wall or cover body are weldedor otherwise secured to the frame I5, the construction and arrangementof parts being such that the latch I4 may be swung so that it overliesthe adjacent edge of the frame I5 so as to lock the cover in closedposition.

Each side and end wall is formed with an elongate opening disposedbetween the angle iron I and the circumferentially extending strap IIand spaced inwardly from the corners defined by the vertical legs of therod I0, and beneath the strap II are horizontal rods 20, one for eachopening, the ends of which are connected to or supported by brackets 2Isecured to the vertical legs of the rods I0. The rods 20 pivotallysupport a bank of gates or trap doors (Fig. 2), each of which comprisesa pair of spaced vertical legs 24, extending upwardly from the angleiron I with their central portions looped about the rods 20, asindicated at 25, to provide pivotal connections. The ends of the wires24 are bent inwardly and downwardly into convergent relation so as toprovide, in effect, a combined counterweight and lure or bait support26. A short length of wire 28, bent to form a hook, may be welded to thejunction of the two wires 24 to provide means cooperating with the ends26 for holding a bait bag or another lure. Vertically and horizontallyextendin wires 30 and 3| are welded together and the ends of thehorizontal wire 30 are welded to the legs 24 so as to reduce the size ofthe openings between the legs without materially obstructing visibilityof the lures and a central bait spit that may be provided.

In the construction and arrangement of parts herein shown, the lowerends of the legs 24 and pickets 3| are engageable with the upstandingwing of the angle iron I which constitutes an abutment or stoppreventing outward swinging movement of the gates, and thecounter-balance provided by the ends 26 normally hold the gates closedeven when the trap is in an inclined position, but permits each gate toswing inwardly in response to pressure exerted on the legs 24 and/ormembers 30, 3| by a lobster, crab or the like crustacean. In order toinsure unhampered action and maintain each gate in properly spacedrelation, spacing collars or sleeves 34, carried by the rods 20, aredisposed between the loops of adjacent gates.

Ordinarily the Weight of the trap may be relied upon to providesuflicient anchorage when in use, although if desired, additionalweights in the form of flat stones or other type of anchorage may beused in conventional manner, and any suitable means may be provided forattaching the trap to the end of the usual buoy line.

It will be observed that any one or group "of the gates 22 may be easilyswung inwardly by a lobster approaching the lure bait on the holder 26,or the central spit, and that when inside the trap there is not way forthe lobster to escape since gnawing at the lure bait merely tends tohold the associated gate more firmly closed. Comparative tests withconventional lobster traps indicate that a trap constructed inaccordance with the present invention will generally produce aseveral-fold increase in the catch due to the increased luring-power andaccessibility, and also the practical impossibility of escape afterentering into the trap.

While I have shown and described one desirable embodiment of theinvention it is to be understood that this disclosure is for the p rp seof illustration and that various changes and modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a trap of the type having a box-like structure provided with atleast one side wall having an elongate, horizontally extending opening,a trapdoor comprising a horizontally extending rod running lengthwisealong the upper end of said opening, a plurality ofcounter-balancedgates pivotally supported by said rod to swing inwardlyso as normally to close said opening, each gate comprising spaced wiresextending vertically from the bottom of said opening with their centralportions looped about said rod so as to provide a pivotal connectiontherewith permitting the gate to swing inwardly, the upper ends of saidwires being bent inwardly into converging relation so as to provide acounterweight normally holding the gate closed, a lure-holder secured tosaid counterweight, and an upstanding abutment at the lower part of saidopening engageable with the lower end of said gates to prevent outwardswinging movement thereof 2. In a trap of the type having a box-likestructure provided with at least one side wall having an elongate,horizontally extending opening, a trapdoor comprising a horizontallyextending rod running across the upper end of said opening, acounter-balanced gate pivotally supported by said rod to swing inwardlyso as normally to close said opening, said gate comprising a pair ofspaced wires extending vertically from the bottom of said opening withtheir central portions looped about said rod so as to provide a pivotalconnection therewith permitting the gate to swing inwardly, the upperends of said wires being bent inwardly into converging relation so as toprovide a counterweight operativenormally to hold the gate closed, alure-holder secured to said counterweight, and an upstanding abutment atthe lower part of said opening engageable with the lower end of saidwires to prevent outward swinging movement of the gate.

JOSEPH R. MACDONALD.

The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS umber Name Date 366,802 White July 19, 1837729,786 McDaniel June 2, 1903 1,262,160 Barker Apr. 9, 1918 1,335,359Beisel Mar. 30, 1920 1,619,366 Peterson Mar. 1, 1927 1,?65341 Sawy rJune 24, 1930 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 278,962 Great BritainOct. 20, 19 2'!

